Several prominent leaders from Jammu and Kashmir recently joined a large gathering of Kashmiri Pandits at the Mata Kheer Bhawani temple to offer prayers on the occasion of Jyeshta Ashtami.
About Kheer Bhawani Temple
Located in the village of Tulla Mulla near Srinagar in Jammu and Kashmir, the Kheer Bhawani temple is dedicated to Goddess Ragnya Devi, a form of Goddess Durga. The temple was originally constructed in 1912 under the reign of Maharaja Pratap Singh and was later restored by Maharaja Hari Singh.
Initially known as Bhawani Mandir, the temple eventually earned the name “Kheer Bhawani” due to the traditional offering of kheer (a rice pudding) made to the deity. The goddess is especially revered by the Kashmiri Pandit community, who regard her as their Kuldevi or patron goddess.
The temple’s most prominent event is the Mela Kheer Bhawani, celebrated annually on Zyeshta Ashtami, typically falling in May or June.
Architectural Highlights
The temple is constructed using polished grey stone and features a simple yet elegant design. Its sanctum sanctorum is situated on a marble platform within a pond, with the idol of the goddess placed at the center. Four stone columns support a canopy over the deity. A sacred spring flows near the western end of the temple, and it is believed that changes in the spring’s water color may signal impending misfortunes, with black water seen as a possible omen.